Portable tool for mobile use

ABSTRACT

A portable tool for mobile use includes a housing, an electric motor located in the housing, an insert shaft on the tool, and a battery. The battery or a terminal for connecting to an external energy source is located in the insert shaft. A mechanically or hydraulically driven movable piston rod is for performing spreading, cutting, lifting, and/or pressing. An electronic device controls and/or regulates the electric motor and includes a printed circuit board with a potting compound on which electronic components are arranged. An electrically conductive on the insert shaft allows a releasable electric contact between the battery and the electronic device of the tool by inserting the battery into the insert shaft. The contact is divided into a first and second surface regions. The first surface region is covered with a nonconductive protective layer, and the second surface region is free of the protective layer.

The present application relates to an electromechanical orelectrohydraulic tool for portable use such as a spreading tool, cuttingtool, or combination tool with cutting and spreading functions or alifting cylinder (or rescue cylinder). The aforementioned are preferablyused for rescue operations but can also be used for work. The presentapplication also relates to a battery for use in a corresponding tooland to an arrangement comprising a tool and a battery for operating thesame.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

Portable, motor-driven electromechanical or electrohydraulic tools orrescue tools of the type of interest in this case are used in a widevariety of applications. For example, there are spreading tools, cuttingtools, or so-called combination tools, i.e. tools with cutting andspreading functions, as well as rescue cylinders that are used byemergency services (fire brigade), for example in order to rescueinjured people from accident vehicles or to rescue earthquake victims.The type of tool or rescue tools is varied in this case. There areelectrohydraulically or electromechanically driven tools or rescue toolswith, preferably hardened, tool inserts for cutting, spreading, orpressing. Tools of this type are exposed to extremely high mechanicalrequirements in use and are subject to a wide variety of environmentalinfluences (heat, cold, moisture) depending on the place of use.

It is of particular importance in this case that rescue tools inparticular ensure particularly high operational reliability when in use,since in particular rescue operations always have to be carried outquickly and sudden operational failures can therefore have fatalconsequences.

Battery-powered electromechanical or electrohydraulic tools are ofinterest for a wide variety of purposes due to their easy handling. Forexample, in specific work or rescue situations (e.g. in the military, onoffshore platforms for oil or gas, on offshore wind farms, etc.),corresponding tools could theoretically also be operated under waterbecause of their ease of handling. However, previous battery-operatedtools were not suitable for underwater use.

DOCUMENTED PRIOR ART

G 93 10 597.5 discloses a battery-operated underwater electrical tool inthe form of, for example, a pump. The underwater electrical tool has awaterproof tubular housing into which a housing end part equipped withO-sealing rings inserted in circumferential grooves is pressed. Theconstruction is very complex.

OBIECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a tool which, on theone hand, allows use under water and, on the other hand, can beimplemented with simple structural means. Furthermore, the object of thepresent invention is to provide a battery which can be used for acorresponding tool.

Solution of the Problem

The above problem is solved by the features of claim 1. Advantageousembodiments are claimed in the dependent claims.

The fact that the contact of the tool is divided into a first surfaceregion and a second surface region, the first surface region is coveredwith a nonconductive surface protective layer, and the second surfaceregion is free of a surface protective layer, makes it possible to use acorrespondingly equipped tool under water, in particular even to operateunder salt water, without electrochemical processes adversely affectingthe tool when operating the tool under water. The surface protectivelayer isolates the first surface region of contact from water, inparticular from highly conductive salt water. The constructive measureresults in the fact that, despite a very high electrical conductivity ofsalt water, the first surface region covered with a surface protectivelayer with the water does not cause any, at least no substantial,current flow, and consequently no significant corrosion phenomena takeplace. Only the second surface region, which has no surface protectivelayer, is intended to have direct contact with the contacts of thebattery when it is paired with the battery. At the same time, however, asufficient current flow is made possible over the cross section of thecontact in the paired state with the battery from the battery to thetool. This is important because, when turning on the tool for a fewmilliseconds, for example up to 60 amperes of current can be drawn fromthe battery. Up to approx. 40 amperes can be reached during operation.Likewise, the contact can be designed with a sufficient length,preferably as an insert-oriented flat contact, in order to ensure thenecessary mechanical stability on a printed circuit board. The contactor flat contact can be a conventional contact sheet or a metal contactprovided with a galvanic protective layer on which the surfaceprotective layer is located in the first region. In addition, theinvention allows existing tools to be upgraded in a simple manner.

The second surface region is provided on the contact, preferably on theside of the contact located in the insertion direction.

The second surface region is expediently larger than the first surfaceregion. This increases the mechanical stability and the possibility ofdrawing particularly high currents. The second surface region, i.e. thesurface region covered with the surface protective layer, preferablyalso comprises the front face of the contact. The contact is thuscompletely covered with the surface protective layer, except for thesurface region free of the second surface protective layer. The frontfaces in this region can preferably also be covered by the surfaceprotective layer.

The relevant contact expediently has at least one contact foot which isconnected, preferably soldered, to a printed circuit board. The regionof the connection between the contact and the printed circuit board isexpediently potted or encapsulated by means of potting compound.

The contact can be arranged on the housing of the battery receptacle insuch a way that it protrudes from the printed circuit board on the innerwall of the housing through the latter to the outside.

A plurality of contacts are expediently arranged parallel to oneanother, oriented in the insertion direction.

According to an expedient embodiment of the present invention, thesurface protective layer is a lacquer layer, in particular a coveringlacquer layer, preferably based on acrylic. The lacquer layer preventselectrical current from flowing to the surrounding water.

Alternatively, instead of a lacquer layer, a layer of potting compoundcan also be provided as a surface protective layer, preferably a pottingcompound based on a casting resin or based on PU, epoxy or silicone.This also allows for effective surface protection of the contact to beachieved.

The tool can also be operated even if water penetrates into the interiorof the housing because a brushless direct-current motor (BLDC motor) isprovided as the electric motor, the electronic components of the printedcircuit board are enclosed with potting compound to protect against theingress of water, and the terminal elements of the control cable areprotected against the ingress of water. It was found that water contactbetween the rotor and the permanent magnets is harmless. It is onlynecessary to protect the connection means of the control cable againstthe ingress of water by means of a seal.

Expediently, no protective and/or sealing measures against the ingressof water into the interior of the housing when immersing the housing orthe tool in water therefore need to be provided on the housing of thetool.

The above object is achieved with the generic battery by the features ofclaim 11.

According to the invention, the battery has a battery housing that issealed against the ingress of water, battery cells arranged within thebattery housing, and a terminal region not protected against water foran electrical connection of the battery to the terminal shaft or insertshaft of a tool, wherein the terminal region has at least one contactingchamber which is accommodated in the battery housing and is accessiblefrom the outside via a slot-like passage opening, in which contactingchamber at least one contact element is located, preferably in the formof a contact clip. A corresponding battery is able to make contact withthe contact of the tool on the second surface region when a tool of thetype described above is used under water, in particular under saltwater, without the water being able to cause corrosion and thusdestruction of the contact when the current flows.

Because the terminal region is designed as an elevation on the batteryhousing, the terminal region can be connected to the tool in a simplemanner by a linear displacement to the contact or contacts of the tool.

In order to protect against the ingress of water into the contactingchamber, it has proven to be particularly effective to provide aresilient closure device in the region of the slot-like passage opening,which closure device deforms when the contact is inserted through thepassage opening, allows access, but rests sealingly against the sides ofthe contact.

An arrangement of at least two sealing elements, in particular in theform of flexible platelets or sealing beads oriented transversely to theslot-like passage opening, can preferably be provided as the resilientclosure device. For example, these can consist of rubber or resilientplastics material.

The two platelets oriented transversely to the slot-like passage openingcan touch one another on the front, form a slight gap to one another, orelse overlap.

An even better protection against the ingress of water is achieved ifthe contacting chamber is additionally filled with a gel-like compound.

The gel-like compound should be nonconductive. The gel-like compoundexpediently has a specific resistance of greater than 1×10¹⁰ Ω×mm²/m,preferably greater than 1×10¹³ Ω×mm²/m, particularly preferably greaterthan 1×10¹⁵ Ω×mm²/m.

This can be a crosslinked silicone-based gel.

The resilient closure device, in conjunction with the gel-like compound,also causes the resilient closure device to strip off the gel-likecompound from the contact of the tool when removing the battery from thereceiving slot by pulling the contact of the tool out of the contactingchamber.

The present invention further relates to an arrangement comprising aportable tool according to at least one of claims 1 to 10 and a batteryaccording to at least one of claims 11 to 18.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION USING EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described indetail. For the sake of clarity, recurring features are provided onlyonce with a reference sign. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is the representation of an overall view of an example of a toolin the form of an electro-hydraulic, battery-operated cutting toolaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an example of a hydraulic circuit diagram of the cutting toolaccording to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional representation of the housing region ofthe tool according to the invention in accordance with FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged representation of the region A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged representation of the region B of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged representation of the region C of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a perspective representation of an example of a printedcircuit board assembly for use in the scope of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an example of a control panel having a displayarrangement according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is different views of an example of a housing region in theregion of the battery holder in a perspective outside view (FIG. 9a ),in a perspective inside view without potting compound (FIG. 9b ) and ina perspective inside view with potting compound (FIG. 9c );

FIG. 10 is a perspective representation of an example of a batteryaccording to the invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective representation of the orientation of the partsto one another when the battery according to FIG. 10 is pushed onto thebattery holder of the tool, only the housing part carrying the batteryholder being shown;

FIG. 12 is a sectional representation through the assembled partsaccording to FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a partial sectional representation of the battery with theterminal region cut open;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional representation of a contacting chamberas part of the terminal region, and

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a contact of the tool according to theinvention.

Reference sign 1 in FIG. 1 denotes an example of a tool according to theinvention in its entirety. In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, thetool 1 is an electro-hydraulic, battery-operated cutting tool (cutter).The tool 1 comprises a housing 12 in which an electric motor 3 in theform of a brushless direct-current motor (BLDC motor), a hydraulic pump2 (piston compressor 2 a, 2 b), and a hydraulic tank 19 having hydraulicfluid 30 are located (cf. also FIGS. 2 and 3). In addition, acompensating device is provided for compensating the volume of thehydraulic fluid during operation of the tool 1. This can be, forexample, a flexible membrane or an entirely flexible hydraulic tank. Acontrol panel 25 having a display 14 and an on/off switch 13 is attachedto the housing 12. The operator can read the operating states on thedisplay 14. An insert shaft 26 for a battery 18 is provided on the rearof the housing. Instead of the battery, an energy supply unit (not shownin FIG. 1) could also be inserted at this point. The nominal voltage foroperating the tool is for example 24 volts.

In the example shown, two tool halves 35 a, 35 b, which are cutting toolhalves in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, are located on the front sideof the tool 1. The two cutting tool halves are driven via a piston rod(not shown in FIG. 1). The latter is located in a hydraulic cylinder 4.A first hand grip 15 is located in the region of the hydraulic cylinder4. A second hand grip 16 is provided on the housing 12. The tool 1 canthus be guided or operated by the operator with two hands. Using amanually operated hydraulic valve 6 (control valve), the operator canmanually control the direction of the hydraulic flow with the handlocated on the second hand grip 16 so that the piston rod is eitherretracted (with the tool halves 35 a, 35 b being closed) or extended(with the tool halves 35 a, 35 b being opened) or hydraulic oil isreturned to the supply circuit, i.e. to the hydraulic tank (bypassoperation).

The embodiment of the control valve 6 shown in FIG. 1 is a control valvewhich can be rotated in the extension of the axis of the hand grip 16and has a so-called star handle which is rotated by the operator tocontrol the switching positions. The housing 12 comprises two housingshells which (cf. FIG. 3) are connected to one another via connectingelements 7, for example screws. No seal is provided to protect againstthe ingress of water into the housing 12 when immersing the housing 12in water. The rotor of the brushless direct-current motor is notprotected from water.

The tools in question in this case are able to be operated in anyspatial arrangement or orientation.

Instead of the cutting tool described above, the invention can also bedesigned as a spreading tool, a combination tool having cutting andspreading functions, or as a lifting or rescue cylinder. A piston rodthat is guided in a cylinder, for example a hydraulic cylinder, is usedin all of these tools.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a hydraulic circuit diagram of a toolaccording to FIG. 1. The electric motor is a brushless direct-currentmotor which drives a hydraulic pump 2 in the form of two pistoncompressors 2 a, 2 b via an eccentric shaft 36. The piston compressor 2b can have a greater delivery rate than the piston compressor 2 a. Thedelivery flow of the piston compressor 2 b is, for example, passed to apressure switching valve 32. The delivery flow of the piston compressor2 a is also passed to the pressure switching valve 32 as a controlsignal. The pressure switching valve 32 can be set to a specificpressure switching value by means of spring force. If the pressure inthe control line of the piston compressor 2 a exceeds this pressureswitching value, the pressure switching valve 32 is opened and thedelivery flow of the piston compressor 2 b is diverted into the tank 19.This ensures that the drive power required by the system remains withinthe available drive power.

The delivery flow branches in the further course in the direction of theswitching valve 6 and the pressure shut-off valve 31. The pressureshut-off valve 31 is set to the permissible system pressure by means ofspring force. If the pressure exceeds the set permissible systempressure, the pressure shut-off valve 31 opens and allows the deliveryflow to flow back into the tank until the pressure falls below thepermissible pressure again.

The control valve 6 is operated manually by the user by means of a starhandle (cf. FIG. 1). It has a spring-assisted reset function in theneutral position. In the neutral position (as shown), it is located inthe middle position. In this position, all connected lines are connectedto the tank so that no pressure can build up and the system does notmove. If the control valve 6 is deflected, for example, to the right,then in the left connection line the pressurized delivery flow isconveyed in the direction of the double-releasable check valve 28. Onthe right connection line, hydraulic oil that comes from the directionof the double-releasable check valve 28 is returned to the tank 19. Ifthe control valve 6 is deflected to the left, the process just describedis reversed, so that ultimately the direction of movement of the tool isreversed. The delivery flow that is conveyed into the left connectionline of the double releasable check valve 28 opens a spring-loaded checkvalve in the left connection line and, via a control line that is guidedto the right connection line, also opens the check valve located there.This ensures that, on the one hand, the delivery flow in the leftconnection line can be fed to the hydraulic cylinder 4 of the tool. Onthe other hand, it is ensured that the hydraulic oil that is displacedout of the cylinder by the hydraulic cylinder 4 on the right-hand sidecan be returned to the system's tank 19 through the double-releasablecheck valve 28 on the right-hand connection line.

The hydraulic cylinder 4 has a branch to safety valves 29, 30 at bothterminals. These safety valves 29, 30 ensure that the pressure in thecylinder chambers cannot rise higher than permitted. If the pressure inone or in both cylinder chambers rises above the safety-relatedpermissible pressure, these valves open a connection to the tank 19 sothat the pressure can decrease again. An elevation of the pressureinside the hydraulic cylinder 4 can occur, for example, because forcesacting on the piston of the hydraulic cylinder 4 from outsideadditionally compress the hydraulic oil. Devices are attached to thepiston rod 5 of the hydraulic cylinder 4 which move, for example, ashear knife, a spreader, or the like. The tank 19 can, for example, bedesigned as a flexible rubber bellows and at the same time serves as acompensating device.

FIG. 3 shows, in a partial sectional representation, the interior of theregion of the housing 12 of the tool 1 from FIG. 1. The electroniccontrol and regulating device for controlling and/or regulatingcomprises a printed circuit board 8 having electronic components 9,which in particular relate to the power supply for the brushlessdirect-current motor. Furthermore, in the region of the on/off switch13, a control panel having a display 14 is provided, which comprises itsown printed circuit board 20. The control panel of the display 14 ispreferably a waterproof membrane keyboard. The necessary operations canbe carried out using the membrane keyboard. Furthermore, a furtherprinted circuit board 22 is provided in the region of the control valve6, on which printed circuit board a sensor 21, in particular a magneticsensor, is located as an electronic component for detecting thedeflection of the star handle of the control valve 6. With the rotationof the star handle, not only is the hydraulic position of the controlvalve 6 changed, but also the electric motor is switched on or offand/or a turbo function is switched on and/or off via the angularposition of the star handle. The sensor 21 is connected to the printedcircuit board 20 via a control line 10 a. The printed circuit board 20is connected to the printed circuit board 8 that represents the mainprinted circuit board, via a further control line 10 b. The control line10 b is connected to the printed circuit board 20 and/or the printedcircuit board 8 via waterproof connection means 11. A part of thecorresponding connection means 11 can be arranged on the printed circuitboard side and can preferably also be partially embedded there. Theopposite part of the connection means 11 is located on the control line10 a or 10 b. The connection means 11 can be a plug-in connection and/orrotary connection which is sealed by a sealing means (not shown in thedrawings), for example an O-ring.

The control lines 10 a and/or 10 b are each lines via which controlsignals are sent. A direct connection to the printed circuit board isprovided in the embodiment according to FIG. 3, for example via asoldered connection, as connection means 11 of the control line 10 a tothe electronic components of the printed circuit board 20, and theprinted circuit board 22 of the sensor 21. Plug-in and/or rotaryconnectors are provided in FIG. 3 as the connection means 11 of thecontrol line 10 b between the printed circuit board 8 and the printedcircuit board 20.

Furthermore, in the region of the printed circuit board 8, power cablesfor the power supply of the electric motor 3 are arranged, which powercables are in electrical connection with contacts 27 for the battery oran energy supply unit. In the example shown, there is a three-phaseconnection with three power cables 23 a, 23 b and 23 c. In particular,the electrical terminals 24 a to 24 c of the power cables 23 a, 23 b and23 c for the power supply of the electric motor 3 can be spaced apart bya sufficient distance from one another, which ensures that, in the eventthat the terminals 24 a to 24 c are surrounded by water duringelectrical operating conditions of the tool, (e.g. with a nominalvoltage of 24 volts), no electrical short-circuit occurs via the wateras the electrical conduction medium. Corresponding terminals are alsoprovided on the electric motor 3 but cannot be seen in FIG. 3.

In the region of the insert shaft 26, open contacts 27, which areunprotected from water, are provided for electrical contact with abattery (not shown in FIG. 4) or an energy supply unit. The contacts 27are also at a sufficient distance from one another, which ensures that,in the event that the contacts 27 are surrounded by water, no electricalshort-circuit occurs during the electrical operating conditions of thetool via the water as the electrical conduction medium. The contacts 27and the printed circuit board 8 are fastened to a housing part 12 a(battery holder). The control line 10 b comprises connection means 11which are protected from water.

From the enlarged partial representation of FIG. 5, the electroniccomponents 9 of the printed circuit board 20 can be seen, which areenclosed by potting compound 17. The printed circuit board side part ofthe connection means 11 for the printed circuit board 20 can also beseen in FIG. 5. The control panel 25 is designed as a membrane keyboard.This is a sandwich-shaped membrane layer structure. The front edge ofthe control panel 25, i.e. of this structure, is also covered by pottingcompound 17. For this purpose, a gap 37 to the housing 12, whichpreferably runs completely around the control panel 25, is seen in theregion of the front edge of the control panel 25. The gap 37 is coveredon the outside by a protrusion 38 of the control panel 25 or themembrane keyboard (e.g. in the form of a protruding membrane layer onthe top, which membrane layer is glued to a step 39 of the housing 12),so that a circumferential annular blind hole is created which can befilled with potting compound 17. In this way, the entire region can bepotted “overhead” with potting compound 17.

The enlarged partial representation of FIG. 6 shows the magnetic sensor21 for determining the deflection of the star handle. This is located onits own printed circuit board 22 which is accommodated in a sensorholder 33 in the form of a pocket-shaped recess. The magnetic sensor 21and the printed circuit board 22 are sealed off from the outside of thesensor holder 33 by a potting compound 17. The potting compound 17 thuscloses the pocket-like recess of the sensor holder 33 to the outside.The control line 10 a, which leads from the printed circuit board 22 tothe printed circuit board 20 of the control panel or display 14, is alsoconnected to the printed circuit board 22 and enclosed by the pottingcompound 17. There, the end region of the control line 10 a is alsoenclosed by potting compound 17.

FIG. 7 shows the two printed circuit boards 20, 22 having electroniccomponents 9 (the printed circuit board 22 having an electroniccomponent, for example in the form of the magnetic sensor 21) in theinitial state before assembly. They consist of the same printed circuitboard base material. The printed circuit board 22 is defined as aremoval region from the other printed circuit board 20. The two printedcircuit boards 20, 22 are connected via the control cable 10 a. Asoldered connection is provided as the respective connection means 11 onboth printed circuit boards 20, 22. Furthermore, two predeterminedseparation points 40 are provided (only one of which can be seen in FIG.7), which separation points must be destroyed in order to remove theprinted circuit board 22, as a result of which the printed circuit board22 can be removed with the wiring. The connection means 11 are thenenclosed when casting the printed circuit boards 20, 22 with pottingcompound 17.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, isolated representation of the control panel 25with the on/off switch 13 and the display 14 with various displays andcontrol panels. The control panel 25 is preferably designed as awaterproof membrane keyboard.

The present invention makes it possible to operate the tool 1 also underwater without the housing 12 having to be sealed. This new, importantfunctionality can thus be achieved without complex conversion measuresor without any significant increase in manufacturing costs.

The electronic components of the printed circuit board 8, 20, and/or 22are in particular microcontrollers, frequency converters, memorymodules, electronic switches, measuring devices such as, for example,integrated semiconductor temperature sensors and/or LEDs.

The display 14 comprises a display device, which in turn can include,for example, a load display and/or operating status display and/ortemperature display.

The battery 18 has a waterproof housing or at least an independentwaterproof encapsulation.

The on/off switch 13 is a waterproof on/off switch, for example amembrane switch or a push button switch.

A potting compound based on PU, epoxy, or silicone can preferably beused as the potting compound. A silicone-based potting compound isparticularly suitable if elevated temperatures occur during operation ofthe tool 1.

As an alternative to the battery 18, it is also possible in normaloperation, i.e. not under water, for a power supply unit (not shown inthe figures) to be inserted into the insert shaft 26, which power supplyunit is connected to the network via a cable.

Reference sign 12 a shows the housing in the region of the batteryholder in FIG. 9a in a perspective representation. This can be anindependent housing portion which is completed with the rest of thehousing of the tool 1. The housing 12 a of the battery receptacle hastwo opposite L-shaped guide webs 43 which together form the insert shaft26 for the battery 18 shown. A plurality of contacts 27 in the form ofelongated flat contacts are provided which are oriented in the insertiondirection so as to be arranged parallel to one another between the twoguide webs 43. They are used to contact the corresponding contacts inthe battery. Furthermore, the part 12 a comprises two further guide webs44 which receive corresponding guide lugs 58 (cf. FIG. 10). A recess 48is located at the upper end of the part 12 a, into which recess acorresponding holding projection 59 of the battery 18 (cf. FIG. 12)engages.

The respective contacts 27 are fastened to the latter via contact feet27 a, 27 b passed through the printed circuit board or are soldered tothe latter, as can be seen from FIG. 9b . The printed circuit board 8 issurrounded by a circumferential frame 45 which is intended toencapsulate the circuit board 8 and the electronic components locatedthereon with potting compound 17, as can be seen from FIG. 9c . Only theconnection means 11 and a plurality of fastening connections 65 are notsurrounded by potting compound.

The entire region of the electronic components including the terminal ofthe contacts 27 to the printed circuit board 8 are thus protectedagainst the ingress of water by encapsulation with potting compound 17.The contacts 27 protrude through the housing 12 a on the outside betweenthe two guide webs 43.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a battery 18 according to the invention foruse with a tool 1 according to the invention. The battery 18 has abattery housing 46 which consists of two housing shells which areconnected to one another in a waterproof manner. The battery 18comprises a terminal region 47 which is somewhat raised compared to therest of the battery housing 46, the terminal region having two laterallypositioned guides 63. A plurality of contacting chambers 49, eachcomprising slot-like passage openings 50 for receiving the contacts 27of the tool, is located in the interior of the terminal region 47. Theslot-like passage openings 50 are formed both on the top side and on thefront face of the terminal region 47. Guide lugs 58 are located in theside region, which guide lugs engage in the recesses of the guide webs44 of the housing wall 12 a. Furthermore, a holding projection 59 isprovided at the end side which engages in the corresponding recess 48 onthe housing part 12 a. The terminal region 47 is preferably formed inmultiple parts and is connected to the housing 46 via suitable fasteningmeans 67.

FIG. 11 shows the terminal region 47 of the battery 18 being pushed intothe insert shaft 26 of the housing part 12 a of the tool. The battery 18having its terminal region 47 is placed in front of the guide webs 43and then shifted in the direction of the contacts 27 of the housing part12 a (see arrow), whereby the contacts 27 engage through the slot-likepassage openings 50 into the respective contacting chambers 49.

FIG. 12 shows the housing part 12 a of the tool, paired with the battery18. The remaining components of the tool are not shown for the sake ofclarity. The representation shows the individual battery cells 57surrounded by the two-part battery housing 46. The battery housing 46 issecured against the ingress of water by a circumferential seal 64 whichis located in a corresponding recess in the end contact region of thetwo housing shells. The battery 18 is held on the housing part 12 a viathe holding projection 59 which engages in the recess 48 of the housingpart 12 a. This engagement can be released by a manually operatedrelease mechanism 60 if necessary and the battery can be pushed out ofthe insert shaft 26. It can be seen from FIG. 12 that a contact clip 55makes contact with the contact 27 in the second region 42, whereas thefirst region 41 is not contacted. The current is therefore tapped onlyat the second region 42 of the contact 27. The current is thus drawn viathe second region 42 and fed to the printed circuit board 8 or theelectronic components located there. The second surface region 42 ispositioned on the contact 27 on the side of the contact 27 in theinsertion direction.

For a better understanding, the connection region 47 is shown as apartial sectional illustration in FIG. 13, so that the interior of theterminal region 47 is more clearly visible. In the interior of theterminal region 47, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, a total of fourcontacting chambers 49 are provided, each contacting chamber 49 beingprovided for contacting a contact 27. In FIG. 13, only the contact 27 isshown for this, which contact extends through the correspondingslot-like passage opening 50 into the relevant contacting chamber 49.The individual contacting chambers 49 are separated from one another bychamber walls 61. Each contacting chamber 49 comprises a contact clip 55which engages the contact 27 on both sides. The arrangement in questioncan be seen even more clearly in the partial view according to FIG. 14,no contact 27 being shown in FIG. 14. As is clear from FIG. 14, theslot-like passage opening 50 of each contacting chamber 49 is protectedagainst the ingress of water. This is done, for example, by a resilientclosure device 51 in the front region of the contacting chamber 49. Thisresilient closure device 51 can be implemented, for example, by a firstand a second resilient platelet 52, 53, which platelets are arranged onthe inside in the contacting chamber 49 transversely to the insertiondirection immediately after the slot-like passage opening 50. The twoplatelets 52, 53 can form a slight gap 54 through which the contact 27runs. Instead of the platelets, sealing elements in the form of twobeads or the like can also be provided. They only need to be made of aresilient material, such as rubber, resilient plastics material, or thelike.

As can also be seen from FIG. 14, the corresponding contacting chamber49 is additionally filled with a gel-like compound 56 which also ensuresadditional protection against the ingress of water into the contactingchamber 49. The gel-like compound 56 is preferably an electricallyinsulating material with a specific resistance of greater than 1×10¹⁰Ω×mm²/m, preferably greater than 1×10¹³ Ω×mm²/m, particularly preferablygreater than 1×10¹⁵ Ω×mm²/m.

For example, it can be a crosslinked silicone-based gel.

The contact clips 55 are preferably molded into or injected into thebattery housing 46 or into a holder connected to the latter. The contactclips 55 are also electrically connected to a printed circuit board ofthe battery 18 located within the battery housing 46 via suitablecontacting. In the front region, the legs of the contact clips 55converge and form the region that contacts the second surface region 42of the contact 27.

As soon as the battery 18 is pulled out of the insert shaft 26, theresilient closure element 51 closes off the contacting chamber 49 andthereby prevents the ingress of water into the latter. The resilientclosure device 51, in conjunction with the gel-like compound 56, alsocauses the resilient closure device 51 to strip off the gel-likecompound 56 from the contact 27 of the tool 1 when removing the battery18 from the insert shaft by pulling the contact 27 of the tool 1 out ofthe contacting chamber 49.

FIG. 15 shows the contact 27 as such. The part of the contact 27 locatedin the outer region of the housing 12 a is identified in FIG. 15 withthe reference sign 66. The material of the contact (e.g. metal) ispreferably covered with a galvanic protective layer onto which thesurface protective layer 62 is in turn located in the first surfaceregion 41 of the outside contact region 66. The second surface region 42of the contact 27 is designed to be free of a surface protective layer.As can be seen from FIG. 15, the area of the first surface region 41 issignificantly larger than the second surface region 42 which is free ofthe surface protective layer.

The surface protective layer 62 is preferably a lacquer layer thatprevents or isolates a current flow, in particular a covering lacquerlayer, preferably based on acrylic. The lacquer layer preventselectrical current from flowing to the surrounding water. Alternatively,instead of a lacquer layer, a layer of potting compound can also beprovided as the surface layer, preferably a potting compound based on acasting resin or based on PU, epoxy, or silicone. The starting materialof the contact 27 can, for example, be a conventional contact sheet fromwhich the contact 27 can be punched.

The invention makes it possible to operate a tool of the type describedunder water, even under salt water.

It is expressly pointed out that the combination of individual featuresand sub-features is also to be regarded as substantial to the inventionand is included in the disclosure content of the application.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1 Tool

2 Hydraulic pump

2 a Piston compressor

2 b Piston compressor

3 Electric motor

4 Hydraulic cylinder

5 Piston rod

6 Control valve

7 Connecting element

8 Printed circuit board

9 Electronic component

10 a Control line

10 b Control line

11 Connection means

12 Housing

12 a Housing battery holder

13 On/off switch

14 Display

15 First hand grip

16 Second hand grip

17 Potting compound

18 Battery

19 Hydraulic tank

20 Printed circuit board

21 Magnetic sensor

22 Printed circuit board

23 a Power cable

23 b Power cable

23 c Power cable

24 a Electrical terminal

24 b Electrical terminal

24 c Electrical terminal

25 Control panel

26 Insert shaft

27 Contact

27 a Contact foot

27 b Contact foot

28 Check valve

29 Safety valve

29 Safety valve

30 Hydraulic fluid

31 Pressure shut-off valve

32 Pressure switching valve

33 Sensor holder

34 Magnet holder

35 a Tool half

35 b Tool half

36 Eccentric shaft

37 Gap

38 Protrusion

39 Step

40 Predetermined separation point

41 First surface region

42 Second surface region

43 Guide web

44 Guide web

45 Surrounding frame

46 Battery housing

47 Terminal region

48 Recess

49 Contacting chamber

50 Slot-like passage opening

51 Resilient closure device

52 Platelet

53 Platelet

54 Gap

55 Contact clip

56 Gel-like compound

57 Battery cell

58 Guide lug

59 Holding projection

60 Release mechanism

61 Chamber wall

62 Surface protective layer

63 Guide

64 Circumferential seal

65 Fastening connection

66 Outside contact region

67 Fastening means

1. Portable spreading tool, cutting tool, or combination tool withcutting and spreading functions, comprising: a housing, an electricmotor located in the housing, an insert shaft on the tool, a powersupply in the form of a battery, wherein the battery or a terminal forconnecting to an external electrical energy source is located in theinsert shaft, a mechanically or hydraulically driven movable piston rodfor performing spreading work, cutting work, lifting, and/or pressingwork, and an electronic control and regulating device for controllingand/or regulating the electric motor, comprising a printed circuit boardwhich is potted with a potting compound and on which electroniccomponents are arranged, wherein at least one contact, which is made ofan electrically conductive material is provided on the insert shaft,said contact allowing a releasable electrical contact between thebattery and the electronic control and regulating device of the tool byinserting the battery into the insert shaft, wherein the contact isdivided into a first surface region and a second surface region, thefirst surface region is covered with a surface protective layer, and thesecond surface region is free of a surface protective layer.
 2. Toolaccording to claim 1, wherein the second surface region is larger thanthe first surface region.
 3. Tool according to either claim 1, whereinthe second surface region comprises front faces of the contact.
 4. Toolaccording to claim 1, wherein the contact has at least one contact footwhich is encapsulated and connected to the printed circuit board bypotting compound.
 5. Tool according to claim 1, wherein a plurality ofcontacts is arranged so as to be oriented parallel to one another in aninsertion direction.
 6. Tool according to claim 1, wherein the surfaceprotective layer is a lacquer layer.
 7. Tool according to claim 1,wherein the surface protective layer is a layer of potting compound. 8.Tool according to claim 1, wherein the contact is completely coveredwith a galvanic protective layer
 9. Tool according to claim 1, wherein abrushless direct-current motor is provided as the electric motor, theelectronic components of the printed circuit board are enclosed withpotting compound to prevent ingress of water comprising at least onecontrol cable for transporting signals to the control unit, the controlcables having a connector for connection to the printed circuit board,and the connector of the control cable is protected against the ingressof water.
 10. Tool according to claim 1, wherein no protective and/orsealing measures are provided on the housing to prevent ingress of waterinto the interior of the housing when immersing the housing in water.11. Battery for use in a spreading tool, cutting tool, or combinationtool with cutting and spreading functions, according to claim 1,comprising: a waterproof battery housing, battery cells arranged withinthe battery housing, a terminal region free of protection against waterfor an electrical connection of the battery to the terminal shaft orinsert shaft of the tool, wherein the terminal region has at least onecontacting chamber (49) which is accommodated in the battery housing andis accessible from outside via a slot-like passage opening and isprotected against ingress of water, and in which contacting chamber atleast one contact element is in the form of a contact clip.
 12. Batteryaccording to claim 11, wherein the terminal region forms an elevation onthe outer housing.
 13. Battery according to claim 11, wherein in thecontacting chamber, in the region of the slot-like passage opening, aresilient closure device is provided which deforms when inserting acontact through the passage opening
 14. Battery according to claim 11,wherein the resilient closure device has at least two flexible sealingelements oriented transversely to the slot-like passage opening. 15.Battery according to claim 14, wherein the two platelets orientedtransversely to the slot-like passage opening touch one another on afront side, form a gap between the two platelets, or overlap oneanother.
 16. Battery according to claim 11, wherein the contactingchamber is filled with a gel-like compound.
 17. Battery according toclaim 16, wherein the gel-like compound has a specific resistance ofgreater than 1×10¹⁰ Ω×mm²/m.
 18. Battery according to claim 16, whereinthe gel-like compound (56) is a crosslinked silicone-based gel. 19.Arrangement comprising a portable tool according to claim 1 and abattery comprising: a waterproof battery housing; battery cells arrangedwithin the battery housing; a terminal region free of protection againstwater for an electrical connection of the battery to the terminal shaftor insert shaft of the tool; wherein the terminal region has at leastone contacting chamber which is accommodated in the battery housing andis accessible from outside via a slot-like passage opening and isprotected against ingress of water, and in which contacting chamber atleast one contact element is in the form of a contact clip